People without a King

This semester I have been preaching through the book of Judges at RUF, and this week we are going to start the book of Ruth.  These are powerful books in the Bible.  As I have studied and prepared to teach the book of Judges, God has taught me some powerful things.  One of those things is that I’m just like the Israelites; I’m in need of a king.  I often “do what is right in my own eyes.”  Just ask my wife.  I hope these thoughts will help you to appreciate God’s Word.  I’m realizing more each day just how powerful His word really is. 

In the opening verse of the book of Ruth, we see that these events take place during the time of the Judges.  Judges 21:25 describes this time of the Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel.  Everyone did what is right in his own eyes.”  The whole book of Judges is screaming that the people of Israel need a king desperately.  In verses 17:6; 18:1; 19:1 and 21:25, the phrase “In those days there was no king in Israel” keeps popping up to show the readers of Judges how much they need good leadership.  The writer is crafting a wonderful piece of literature to prepare the Israelite’s hearts for a coming king.  The book of Judges leaves the reader and leaves me asking these questions: “Who is your (my) king?  Who is the king of your (my) heart?  Where does your (my) heart follow?”  Listen to this wonderful quote by Becky Pippert:

“Whatever controls us is our lord.  The person who seeks power is controlled by power.  The person who seeks acceptance is controlled by the people he or she wants to please.  We do not control ourselves.  We are controlled by the lord of our life.”

 The book of Ruth is this great story of a family during the time of the Judges, a family called by God to further His purpose to give the people of Israel a king: Ruth’s great-grandson David is the king for whom they have been waiting.  This story, however, points to a greater King David to come in Jesus.  The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession for Faith, Question 26 reminds us of this great truth:

Question 26:  How does Christ execute the office of a king?

Answer 26:  Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

It is great to know that we have a king in Jesus.  Jesus is the exact one to rule and defend us and to restrain and conquer all our enemies.  The book of Ruth will show us that Jesus is our King.  Jesus is the King for whom we have been waiting. We need to realize that we need to be people who live under the reign of Jesus and not under our own reign.